Understanding Symptom Connections in First Responders

First Responders (FRs), such as law enforcement officers (LEOs), firefighters (FFs), and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are frequently exposed to traumatic events as part of their job. FRs often disproportionately present with symptoms of depression, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and are at increased risk of suicide.

Untangling the co-occurrence of these mental health conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment. While transdiagnostic approaches have improved outcomes, understanding the connections between these overlapping disorders remains vital.

As First Responders suffer disproportionately from PTSD, depression and anxiety, understanding symptom connections can help unveil intertwined patterns and mechanisms.

Methods

Data were collected from 432 US first responders seeking treatment, with measures including PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire.